Today In NASCAR History

1969: Richard Brickhouse prevails in the first Talladega 500, a race marked by a boycott of around 30 drivers because of safety concerns and other grievances. The protest at the new 2.66-mile speedway turned into an attempt to unionize the top drivers; the effort ultimately fizzled after NASCAR chairman Bill France Sr. insisted the show go on and ran a well-attended race without them. Brickhouse led the final 11 laps of his only career win in NASCAR’s top series, beating Jim Vandiver and Ramo Stott to the line in a field dotted with replacement drivers.